The current average growth rate is 68kg DM/ha/day. While there is little or no difference in growth rates between north and south, there is a difference opening up from a grazing management perspective.

Farms in the north and west of the country have reached their quota of rain and ground is starting to get sticky. Coupled with the cooler weather, this is leaving grazing difficult with stock becoming easily unsettled.

My advice here would be to allocate smaller portions of grass, more frequently.

It’s more work but it’s the best way to keep cattle happy and grass utilisation high.

It’s a different story further south, with the current spell of wet weather coming just in time to knock drought concerns on the head.

The biggest problem there is finding weather to take out surplus bales.

At this stage of the year, well-stocked farms should have received at least 100 units N/ac, and P and K depending on the farm’s soil index. I’d strongly recommend sulphur too.

Coming off the back of a strong period of growth, it is likely that soil nutrient levels will be depleted.

Have a look at regrowths – if they are slow to get going and the colour is off, your grass could be hungry.

Finally, most ground is on grazing number three to five by now.

It is likely that a dead-butt will be forming at the base of the sward, especially after grazing heavier covers lately.

Topping frequently obviously isn’t recommended but I certainly would consider going in with a disk-machine on this rotation to freshen up the sward once again.